Week 9: Creative Practice Blog #8

Brain Doodles

By Camille Lazarus 

Creative Practice Blog #8

      This week I went to visit my family at the beach for a much-needed break from Gainesville. Saturday morning I was able to see the most beautiful sunrise, which is what I decided to paint this week. I am continuing to work on my watercolor skills (with the addition of oil pastels). When deciding to switch to watercolor, I wanted to be able to paint beautiful sunsets and sunrises. My theme of growth is connected to my work in multiple different ways. Firstly, I have been painting various nature scenes that depict growth in nature in the literal sense. But also I am exploring my theme of growth personally. I am taking these creative practices as time for myself to grow as an artist and improve my skills, but also grow as a person. I have learned a lot about myself through this creative practice.

    I have really enjoyed picking up drawing and painting. Each week, this practice gives me something to look forward to creating and engaging in my creative side that has long been shut down because of lack of time, school, and life in general just being crazy. As I have discussed already, I have seen many connections between my creative practice of painting and drawing with my health, more specifically my mental health. Most time before I start painting or drawing, I get anxious about what I am going to create, but I have been able to calm my mind through deep breathing and sometimes meditating before. After engaging in my practice my head feels clearer and I am less anxiety-ridden. It has also turned into important self-care time, I rarely take the time throughout the week to do things just for myself, and this practice has led me to realize just how much of a priority self-care acts should be.